James 5

1 – 3

And now, you who are rich, the time has come for you to cry out because of the hard days which are coming for you! Your money is ruined and your beautiful clothes are eaten by moths.  Your gold and silver are melting away and this will be a witness against you, and will burn your flesh like fire.  You have stored up treasure during the days that are coming to an end.

These things can be understood by your spirit.  Instead of thinking about how gold and silver can melt away.  We can see that this is something God is doing to get the attention of the rich man. See also Proverbs 23:5, Matthew 19:22-25, Matthew 6:19.

4. Look at the money which was supposed to pay the men who worked for you, but you never paid it to them, and it cries out against you in the cry of the workers has reached the ears of the Lord of Armies.

The name of God used in a passage is one of the keys to understanding it. You will see the reason as you begin to understand why one particular name is used instead of another.

Jehovah Sabaoth: the lord of the armies of Israel or of the army of heaven.

Jehovah-Jireh: God who provides

Jehovah-M’Kaddesh: God who sanctifies

Jehovah-Nissi: God is my Banner

Jehovah-Rohi: God my Shepherd

Jehovah-Rophe: God of Healing

Jehovah-Shalom: God of Peace

Jehovah-Shammah: God who is always there

Jehovah-Tsidkenu: God of Righteousness

See also Deuteronomy 24:15, Isaiah 5:9, Jeremiah 22:13, Matthew 20:8.

5. You have lived richly on the earth and had a life of pleasure, your heart has been made fat but it is ready for the slaughter.

Compare this passage:

The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25

6. You have condemned and murdered good men and they were not able to stop you.

Herod condemned John the Baptist  ( Matthew 14:10) even though he knew John was a just man. James may also be referring to others who were falsely accused by the Pharisees and condemned to death. Since this letter may have been read in the ears of any Pharisees attending the synagogue, it reminds us of similar things Jesus said to the Pharisees ( Matthew 23:34). See also 1 Kings 21:13.

7 – 8

Hold on, brothers, be patient until the Lord returns.  The farmer waits for the fruit of the earth with patients until the winter and spring rains have passed.  Like a farmer, you need to wait patiently and make your heart strong because the coming of the Lord is near.

Have you ever noticed the different stages of our Christian lives?

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope. Romans 5:34

Why is patience so important to a Christian? The answer is that the opposite attitude is: “I want it now!”

The main thing that James is saying is, “Relax in the Lord's timing.”

See also Joel 2:23, 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

9. Do not complain against each other, brothers so that you will not be condemned. Look, the judge is standing right at the door!

This reminds us of what the Lord said to Cain, "Sin is waiting at the door and you must overcome it." Genesis 4:7. See also Revelation 3:20.

10. As an example, look at the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, my brothers, they are an example of waiting during hard times, and of patient endurance

Secretly take the batteries out of a flashlight and ask someone why they think it has stopped working. As soon as they mention that the batteries are dead, put one battery in and show them that it is still not working.

Finally, put all the batteries in and explain that this is what it is like when we don’t allow patience to work. We give up too soon on things that test us. Are we willing to allow God to put the power of His Holy Spirit in us so that we can shine? See also  Matthew 5:12, 23:34-35.

11. We remember those how happy those were who had endurance.  You have heard of how patient Job was.  You have seen the reward that the Lord gave him because the Lord is very merciful and kind.

Now these things happened to them as an example for us, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11. See also Job 2:3,42:10, Psalm 103:8.

12. It is very important,  my brothers, that you do not swear an oath either by heaven or by earth or any kind of oath, but let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no.”  If you do this, then you cannot go wrong - no matter what the problem is.

The Jews believed that if you used God’s name in an oath it meant you had to do what you promised to do, but if you swore by something else you did not have to do it.

Jesus had taught James that if you were a man of your word you would not need to swear. Matthew 5:37

See also Exodus 20:7, Numbers 30:2, Ecclesiastes 5:4, Matthew. 5:34-37, 23:16-22, Mark 3:28-29.

13 – 15

Is any of you in trouble?  Pray!  Is anyone happy?  Sing praises! Is anyone sick?  Let him send for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  The prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has broken God's laws it will be forgiven him.

Make a note of passages which describe a sickness unto death (John 11:4), a sickness of chastisement (1 Corinthians 11:30) and a sickness to the glory of God (John 9:3).

What is the prayer of faith in James 5:15? Compare this with Romans 14:23 and Psalm 66:18.

And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58

The only other instance of healing and oil being combined is in Mark 6:13.

The oil is not said to be the cause of the healing but is a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Notice that the verse says IF he has committed sin. Being sick is not a sign that you are living in sin. See Philippians 2:27, 2 Timothy 4:20, 2 Corinthians 12:9.

On the other hand, James is reminding us to humble ourselves when we are sick. See also Matthew 18:19, Mark 6:13, Isaiah 38:1-5, 1 Corinthians 11:30.

16. Admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other, so that you may be healed.  There is a large amount of power in the prayer of a righteous man.

Crying out to God releases spiritual energy! 1 John 1:9

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their trouble. Psalm 107:6

19 – 20

Brothers, if one of you wanders from the truth, and someone brings him back to the truth,  let that one know that he will save this man from death, and many sins will be forgiven.

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. 1 John 5:16-17

See also Ezekiel 3:17-19, Matthew 18:11-13, Galatians 6:1-2, Hebrews 4:13, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 5:16,  Jude 13.